SCHOOL OFFICIAL: Teacher Charged With Animal Cruelty Resigns

A school employee who was charged nearly a week ago with felony animal cruelty has resigned her job with Beaufort County. That's according to Sarah Hodges, the school system's public information officer.

Kristy Christenberry was a career development coordinator serving Northside and Washington high schools. Christenberry had been with the school system since August 2002 and her salary was $47,050.

The 33-year-old was charged after Beaufort County deputies received a report in December that a hunter shot a dog with a rifle and left the dog to die after dragging it out of a field. Deputies say Christenberry was that hunter.

Christenberry was also cheerleading coach at Northside as well as a working with the Youth Ducks Unlimited group at the school.

She has a June 16th court date.

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A Beaufort County school employee has been charged with animal cruelty.

The sheriff's office received a report in December that a hunter shot a dog with a rifle and left the dog to die after dragging it out of a field.

The sheriff's office reports the hunter was Kristy Christenberry, age 33 of Plymouth.

Beaufort County School officials say Christenberry is a career development coordinator serving Northside and Washington high schools. Christenberry has been with the school system since August 2002 and her current salary is $47,050.

The school system says Christenberry has had no previous disciplinary actions and is still employed with them. Christenberry is also cheerleading coach at Northside as well as a working with the Youth Ducks Unlimited group at the school.

Christenberry faces a felony animal cruelty charge.

Below is the press release from the sheriff's office.

"On December 3, 2010, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received a report of animal cruelty in Blounts Creek.

The report indicated that a hunter shot a dog with a rifle and left the dog to die after dragging it out of a field. The Sheriff’s Office began an investigation and conducted interviews.

On May 19, 2011, Investigator Wesley Waters applied for and obtained a warrant charging Kristy Christenberry, age 33, of Highway 32 South in Plymouth, NC with one count of Felony Cruelty to Animals.

On May 20th, Christenberry turned herself in at the Magistrate’s Office.

She was released after posting a $2,500.00 secured bond set by Magistrate Jasper Mills." (End of press release)

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